Dáil debates

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Topical Issue Debate

Broadband Services Provision

4:00 pm

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue, which is critical to the success of secondary schools across the south east and south west. The high broadband speed for schools project aimed to provide all second level schools with 100 Mbps of high-speed broadband by 2014. The pilot scheme and phase 1 have been completed while phase 2 has just been announced. Phase 1 delivered high-speed broadband to schools in all counties from Clare right up to Louth, including the midlands.

While I welcome the news that a further 216 schools will be covered in phase 2, people are asking why schools in Meath, Kildare and Dublin have been chosen in rolling out high-speed broadband. There are several potential problems with this. First, the areas with the worst broadband services available should have been prioritised first. This would have meant that schools in Tipperary such as Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cahir, or Scoil Ruáin, Killenaule - schools that are in more rural areas and simply do not have the same commercial coverage available - are further missing out on the benefits of having a business-class broadband service. There is also the possibility that until all remaining 250 schools have been connected with high-speed broadband, the final phase might not go ahead due to the current economic climate. It is essential that this investment be delivered as soon as possible to the remaining 250 schools to ensure they can deliver to their students a more in-depth educational experience, which is brought about through the advantages that high-speed broadband brings. Only recently it was announced that 1.6 million people use smartphones. A significant number of these people are in our secondary schools and have become used to communicating through the newest of technologies. We need to ensure all our schools can harness the changing face of technology to provide a better education to secondary school students who need to be better prepared for the digital economy. To do this, a fast, reliable and secure broadband service is essential.

The advantages of such a service are multiple. It will mean that teachers can develop the use of ICT, information and communications technology, in their teaching methods and practices. It will also mean that communication tools such as Skype and other video-conferencing tools can be used, which will also allow for greater co-operation between schools, universities and other experts in curriculum areas. It will mean that classes can watch important Dáil debates live on their computers.

While I welcome the existing investment during the current economic difficulties, it is vital that modern high-speed networks are available to all students in all areas. It is also vital that assurances be given to all remaining schools that students in these areas will not be left behind. Will the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources confirm the position for the remaining 250 schools?

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am grateful to Deputy Tom Hayes for raising this important issue.

The provision of high-speed broadband to all post-primary schools is a policy that the Government has embraced since taking office and one that I am proud to say we are well on the way to realising. I strongly believe this significant investment in our current and future generation of schoolchildren is money well spent. It is also a key investment in future employment and employability as it feeds into the development of a more ICT-literate workforce.

In February 2012, I formally announced the national roll-out of 100 Mbps broadband services to post-primary schools across the country. The national roll-out of this project is being undertaken on a phased basis, with all schools scheduled to be completed by the start of the academic year in September 2014.

Roll-out in 2012 saw high-speed broadband connectivity installed in 202 schools, 78 having been connected in the pilot, in the 14 western and midlands counties covering Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

The selection of schools for connection in 2012 was undertaken following the technical review of the pilot project and discussions with our project partners, namely, HEAnet, the Department of Education and Skills and PDST Technology in Education, and with the service providers engaged on the pilot project. It was considered that a geographical roll-out would provide the project with the most economically beneficial method of achieving the project objectives within the available budget. In addition, the identified counties, mainly in the west and north of the country, were in receipt of the slowest average broadband speeds under the schools broadband programme.

This approach to the selection of schools was adopted for the 2013 roll-out, when all second level schools in Dublin, Kildare and Meath will be connected. A geographical roll-out allows for the aggregation of backhaul links to provide the optimum solution for the schools selected for connection. It will also allow service providers to provide the local school access connection in a cost-effective manner to deliver to multiple schools within similar locations at a reduced cost to the Exchequer.

I can assure Deputy Hayes that the extension to south Tipperary will not be held up because of the constrained financial circumstances. The roll-out will continue to September 2014, when schools in south Tipperary, along with those in Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, north Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow, will be connected. The procurement of services to ensure this is achieved as quickly as possible is currently being undertaken.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of visiting Presentation Secondary School in Warrenmount, Dublin, where I saw at first hand the real and tangible benefits that this programme has delivered to our post-primary students. The availability of high-speed reliable broadband is changing both the way our teachers teach and the way our students learn. What I witnessed that day convinced me that the course we are on is one that will fundamentally change the use of ICT in our classrooms and help us to deliver the digital workforce to drive economic recovery.

With the infrastructure in place, the technology accessible, and the guidance of progressive educators, we have the potential to ensure that ICT will play a central role in the development of the digital citizens of tomorrow and allow the Irish economy to compete in the global marketplace.

4:10 pm

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister sincerely for his comprehensive reply to this issue. This has been a concern for many schools across south Tipperary and I have no doubt, having listened to the information the Minister has provided and the assurance he gave, that within 12 months all schools in south Tipperary will be dealt with. That is excellent news, for which I thank the Minister. I understand this will take time but it is a positive development in these economic times. The principals and the teachers in the school who contacted me in recent months were concerned that it would not happen. I am very pleased this is going ahead, particularly in Cahir, Killenaule and other areas, because it will help in the education of our children.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We all care about Cahir.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I have explained to Deputy Hayes the reason it makes good sense to have high-speed connectivity installed in contiguous geographical areas. That is the most economical way. My Department will pay all of the capital cost under the project to the end of 2015 and will pay the recurring costs for connectivity to each school for the year of installation and for a further 12 months thereafter. We estimate the total capital cost to my Department for the project is between €11 million and €12 million, and the current expenditure costs for the years 2012 to 2015 are approximately €10 million. Thereafter, the Department of Education and Skills picks up the bill. I can assure Deputy Hayes that south Tipperary will be a priority in the coming academic year.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Do not forget Cahir.